Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:18 pm
Bite the sides of your cheeks, works for me eveerytime 
Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:24 pm
I ALWAYS laugh during plays!! I can't help it! But since I'm not going into drama, it doesn't really matter. I just laugh anyways, makes everything more fun =P. Although I suppose if I really needed to, I could just calm myself down, think of things as less fun, etc.
Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:58 pm
The same way you get to Carnegie Hall:
Practice!
I've only dabbled in drama myself, but there is a bit of schtick that I've occasionally pulled since late elementary school (I'll be 45 this year, so that was a looong time ago).
Speaking of it as if it had been years in the past, I would say,
"My sister was killed in a freak accident, just a freak accident. . . .
. . . . She was run over by a truckload of dwarves."
As you can imagine, that can be pulled off only if you can deliver not just the setup but the punchline as well completely straight-faced. Not only can't you laugh, there cannot be even the glimmer of a smile before the last word.
I do not have a poker face.
What I had to do, then, is say it out loud, by myself, many, many times, until I could consistently do it seriously. And also steel myself for it, mentally, before slipping it into a conversation.
If it has been awhile since I've done it -- as it tends to be, not only because it has to be for a completely new audience each time, but because in the years since I first read it something called P.C. was invented -- then I have to run through it to myself several times first to "refresh" my practice (though it isn't always necessary anymore to do those practice runs out loud, since they are refreshers).
Practice!
I've only dabbled in drama myself, but there is a bit of schtick that I've occasionally pulled since late elementary school (I'll be 45 this year, so that was a looong time ago).
Speaking of it as if it had been years in the past, I would say,
"My sister was killed in a freak accident, just a freak accident. . . .
. . . . She was run over by a truckload of dwarves."
As you can imagine, that can be pulled off only if you can deliver not just the setup but the punchline as well completely straight-faced. Not only can't you laugh, there cannot be even the glimmer of a smile before the last word.
I do not have a poker face.
What I had to do, then, is say it out loud, by myself, many, many times, until I could consistently do it seriously. And also steel myself for it, mentally, before slipping it into a conversation.
If it has been awhile since I've done it -- as it tends to be, not only because it has to be for a completely new audience each time, but because in the years since I first read it something called P.C. was invented -- then I have to run through it to myself several times first to "refresh" my practice (though it isn't always necessary anymore to do those practice runs out loud, since they are refreshers).
Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:57 am
I hold my breath if Im not speaking if I dont want to laugh. And if that doesnt help, try imagining the audiance naked... Wait. No. Imagine your mom or dad or who ever you live with yelling at you.
Fri Oct 21, 2005 2:08 am
I've had this problem in drama class too. *nod*
What I find works is insulting people in your head, really meanly. It keeps you serious.
Or start counting the hairs on their head.
What I find works is insulting people in your head, really meanly. It keeps you serious.
Or start counting the hairs on their head.
Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:15 am
I tend to laugh all the time during church. It's a bit annoying. But I can't help it. The Mass that is at night (the one I go to because I don't want to wake up early) is a "teen" Mass. They have a rock band that plays these really annoying songs. And then to top it off, they have freaking hand motions. And everyone in the audience does the hand motions but me, because I don't pay attention when they tell us what to do. And it looks like one of those Christian CD commercials you see while watching late-night television.
Fri Oct 21, 2005 4:18 am
I always bite the inside of my lower lip or my cheek when I feel like I'm going to laugh.
Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:19 am
Ooh, fair point actually. If you go over it again and again and again eventually you won't find it funny.
Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:32 am
Well, if you have time before the preformance try focusing. Blank out and go to 'that special space inside you'. Sounds cheesy but In Jabbawocky (focus game) I'm allways one of the winners even if out side of the game I'll giggle at just about everything. Biteing your cheek/lip helps to.
Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:59 am
I remembered when I tried to do a play last year... the jungle book... I started laughing, so I tried to turn my laugh into a wolf growl... which sounded so stupid it made me laugh XD...
I dont know though, I laugh WAY to much... I mean over-the-topply x\
I dont know though, I laugh WAY to much... I mean over-the-topply x\
Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:26 am
A good way to make yourself immune to laughter (at least I think it is): Find a friend who is really funny. I mean, hilariously funny funny. Then get another average person (lets call him Average Joe).
Now, here you can play a game which me and friends sometimes play. You and Average Joe both put a fair dosage of water in your mouths and keep it there (dont swallow or spit it out). Then get the hilariously funny funny person to do a comedy act. The aim of the game is to see which person lasts the longest without spitting out their water in laughter. Make sure the hilariously funny funny person keeps going until one of you cracks.
Try it, if only for the hilarity factor
Now, here you can play a game which me and friends sometimes play. You and Average Joe both put a fair dosage of water in your mouths and keep it there (dont swallow or spit it out). Then get the hilariously funny funny person to do a comedy act. The aim of the game is to see which person lasts the longest without spitting out their water in laughter. Make sure the hilariously funny funny person keeps going until one of you cracks.
Try it, if only for the hilarity factor
Fri Oct 21, 2005 7:07 pm
Twisted Sanity wrote:A good way to make yourself immune to laughter (at least I think it is): Find a friend who is really funny. I mean, hilariously funny funny. Then get another average person (lets call him Average Joe).
Now, here you can play a game which me and friends sometimes play. You and Average Joe both put a fair dosage of water in your mouths and keep it there (dont swallow or spit it out). Then get the hilariously funny funny person to do a comedy act. The aim of the game is to see which person lasts the longest without spitting out their water in laughter. Make sure the hilariously funny funny person keeps going until one of you cracks.
Try it, if only for the hilarity factor
zomg Wild 'N Out.
Sun Oct 23, 2005 10:48 am
Heheh you're asking the wrong person. When I try not to laugh, I snort, and then start laughing.
Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:07 pm
what i do is i think about something so totally random its not funny.. like a con of coke of the telletubies names or something...